Do or Done? What should we do to inherit eternal life?

Do or Done?  What is the answer when it comes to eternal life?  Is there something we need to do or is it already done?

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The rich ruler asked Jesus what must I do . . .

Luke 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Friend, there is nothing we can doing, it has all been done! “It is finished!”

What Must I Do?

• What must I do?  This was the question of a certain ruler that came to Jesus.  He wanted to know what he should do to inherit eternal life?  What should he do?  What a question!  And yet many people are asking that same question today. (Luk 18:18) And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? The first step was right for he had come to Jesus to find answers about eternal life.  But the question was wrong.  Why?  Because there is nothing of ourselves that we can do or should be doing in order to inherit eternal life.

There is none good, but God.

• He called Jesus good.  Here Jesus reminds him that no one is good, but God. One can obviously see from this verse that Jesus is God.  The ruler also must have thought that he himself could do something good in order to have eternal life.  Jesus told him you are not good, only God is good, and you must see yourself as that way. 

(Luk 18:19) And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

If you are guilty of one commandment you are guilty of all

James_2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 

• So what was he guilty of?  Well, Jesus said you lacked one thing – sell everything, give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.  Whoa!   Wait a minute!  Everything!  This man was very rich and Jesus wanted him to give it all away!  Jesus never said this would save his soul, but only that his treasure would be in heaven for in so doing he would show that he is willing to give his life for the Lord.  One of the commandments is thou shalt not covet. We are also told to not have any idols before God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  This man’s things were his idols for they meant more to him than God and certainly more than helping his neighbor.  The ruler was not willing to turn from his sin of covetousness and serve God only.  Money was his god.  How sad.

(Luk 18:22) Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.  And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.  Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Rejecting Jesus brings great sadness in the end.

• The rich ruler went away very sad.  I am almost sure he was never again the same since that day.  And when death called he had to be the most miserable of all men for it is certain that his riches could not go with him.  He rejected riches in heaven in order to keep riches on earth, something that would never satisfy or last.  Rejecting Christ will send one into an eternity of hell forever.  I cannot imagine any greater sadness than this.  

(Luk 18:23) And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

What Things Seems Impossible to us are Possible with God

The disciples wanted to know who then could be saved, for Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.  

The answer:  It is possible with God!  Anyone who is willing to accept Christ and admit that he is not good and needs a Savior can be saved. And friend that is all you need “to do” for Jesus has already done it for us!  

(Luk 18:24-27) And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?  And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

 

Doing or Done?

by C. Stanley – Moments for You

“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  (luke 10:25)

What shall I do?  No words can more plainly show the ignorance of a fallen sinner who does not understand his lost, fallen, helpless condition.

When man could do nothing, Jesus came to him where he was.  What a journey of love!  He came to do all for the sinner, and He has done it – It is finished!  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men:  (Luke 2:14)

My reader, do you know Jesus?   Are you resting on what Jesus has done on the cross?  Have you been brought to know your utterly lost condition? Have you, by faith, seen Jesus taking your place on Calvary’s cross, and now giving you His place in spotless purity for ever?

If you seek to earn eternal life by doing, you are rejecting and despising Jesus Christ.  But if you know and believe the love of God in sending Jesus to die for you and rise again, you have eternal life.  It is the gift of God.  Let your doing now be to show forth the praises of Him who saved you.  “We love him, because he first loved us.”  (1Jn. 4:19)  C. Stanley – Moments for You

Have you trusted Him alone to save your from your sin?

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